As The Medical College of Wisconsin enters its 132nd year of existence, president and chief executive officer John R. Raymond, Sr. wishes to leave a legacy of excellence that will sustain the higher education institution for many more decades. “I want my legacy to be achieved through responsible growth, partnership, innovation and dynamism,” said Raymond.
The Medical College of Wisconsin is a health sciences university with four missions: teaching, research, clinical care and community engagement. The Medical College of Wisconsin has educated or trained 50% of the practicing physicians in Wisconsin and is one of the top 100 research universities in the U.S.
Under Raymond’s leadership, the college has grown into its name as “the” medical college in Wisconsin. The higher-education institution has more than doubled its top-line revenue and has maintained a healthy positive margin every year during the last 14 years.
The Medical College of Wisconsin, like all healthcare organizations in the U.S., experienced 15% cost inflation in 2022 and 2023, but despite these challenges, the institution was able to grow its revenues and employee base, maintain bond ratings with S&P and Moody’s, assisted its adult health system partner (Froedtert Health) to consummate their merger with ThedaCare, maintained a positive margin and continued to serve the community through initiatives such as ThriveOn King.
“We were able to move forward with alacrity due to excellent planning and a commitment to partnerships in education, patient care, research and community engagement,” said Raymond, a Titan 100 Hall of Famer. “Our people are our best asset, and our talent brings excellence to every opportunity and challenge.”
Raymond has also led efforts to engage in sound business processes, purposeful planning, and culture work necessary to sustain the college’s missions and vitality into the future. In August 2023, Raymond and his team rolled out a new set of organizational values to provide a framework for decision-making, prioritization, behaviors, and accountability for all of its people and the organization as a whole.
“Although those accomplishments have intrinsic value and profound impacts, more importantly, they are indicators of our commitment to provide a foundation for institutional vitality and purpose,” said Raymond. “Our culture has incorporated institutional financial literacy and business principles, sound stewardship, the entrepreneurial mindset and a strong work ethic to promote human flourishing.”
To help the next generation of titans flourish, Raymond’s advice is to “lead with integrity, be candid, transparent, and consistent in communications and decision making and recognize, nurture and reward the talents of colleagues and co-workers, because the success of your organization and the value of your leadership depends on how well you can help others around you to realize their potential.”